April 1, 2000

Box Score

Chicago, Ill. - The 22nd-ranked UIC softball team began defense of its Midwestern Collegiate Conference title on Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with city-rival Loyola at Flames Field. The Ramblers upset the Flames in the first game, 3-2, but UIC rebounded with a 10-1 triumph in game two.

"I think with expectations in sports, it's all about winning, winning, winning," Head Coach Mike McGovern remarked after the game. "It's like focusing on Christmas or playing in a 40-team tournament and focusing on who you're going to play in the end. You need to focus on the process, on today, and the winning will take care of itself."

Loyola's Carole Gorecki and Erin Smith combined to shut the Flames' offense down in the first game. Gorecki, who earned the win to improve to 6-3 on the season, pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs on fours hits, before Erin Smith came in to close the door on a late UIC rally to earn her first save of the year.

Smith entered with one out in the sixth inning and with runners on second and third. The Flames had already tallied a run in the frame on an RBI single by Kathy Casey, and now had Jennifer Merwald, who pinch-ran for Casey, and Julie Bumgardner, who singled, in scoring position. Smith got Abby Booth to line out to third and fanned Molly Freeman to end UIC's comeback bid.

Rory Gonzales-Gould picked up the loss in game one, giving up three runs, two earned, and eight hits in seven innings of work.

The second game of the twin bill was all UIC as the Flames cruised to a 10-1 victory. Sophomore lefty Maral Binnebose (5-3) allowed just three hits and one run en route to her second straight win. Erin Smith picked up the loss, falling to 6-4 on the season.

UIC posted single runs in the third and fourth innings, three in the fifth, and put up a five-spot in the seventh in the win.

Stefanie Christoferson went 4-for-4 on the afternoon with two runs batted in. She tied the school record for hits in a game with four. Julie Bumgardner went 3-for-4 with four RBI while Gina Arnold, Melissa Garvey, Casey and Freeman all tallied run scoring hits.

The Flames are now 35-20 on the season and 1-1 in the MCC. They hit the road for a pair of league games next weekend, playing at Wright State on Saturday, April 9, then taking on Butler in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sunday, April 10.